RP:Hope When You Take That Jump, You Don't Fear The Fall

Part of the Lunar Tides and Silver Linings Arc

Synopsis: Tiber asks Lanara to risk to take a chance at the curse of lycanthrope. Lanara declines which causes Tiber to confront how 'ridiculous' she is being not fighting for life and to stay with him. Eventually, after time apart, Lanara has time to think over her life and future. After some make-up gifts and a day to unwind with the pack mates--by taking the fall of jumping off cliffs--Lanara chooses life. The Kelvarian is determined to take a chance at turning. Life to live with Tiberius. Even though Tiberius is hot-headed, he wants every ounce of the witch to be his for a lifetime. Tiberius Lowell taught Lanara Banks how to live. Lanara Banks taught Tiberius Lowell how to love.

Beloy Street

Lanara (Post 1 of 2) Since freeing the lycans from the grasp of Alastor Ambers, life had been rather chaotic for Tiber and Lanara. They had to escort the troupe of six from Venturil to Cenril, making certain that they had gone undetected. Traveling at a fast pace, on beaten roads and rough terrain, they all had managed to arrive safely on the opposite side of the lands. Lanara had been furious with her boyfriend for breaking his promise, and so she relied on a little retail therapy to keep her mind busy. First, she had gone grocery shopping and purchased enough to tide those they rescued over for breakfast, lunch, and snacks, for a few days. It had been decided that Tiber would bring dinner by each night, and that he would escort them every two or three days to the public baths so they could clean themselves. Next, the witch had focused on stocking up on toiletries and a few things to keep everyone entertained, ranging from decks of cards to boardgames. She had also given Bjorn all the books she had that would help him to learn more about lycanthropy, and she gave any old newspapers that she found in the apartment to the others should they wish to learn about current events. Lana also had gone to the boutiques and browsed clothing that would fit the three women, two men, and small boy, buying them each an outfit for casual, semi-formal, and sleepwear. Tiber had been wise to rent a large storage space and he had managed to have it furnished in a matter of hours, complete with cots, privacy curtains, a large table with eight chairs, a few couches, and an enchanted box to store drinks. The couple had thought of everything that their wards would require to get them through the coming days, and so far things are going according to plan.

Lanara (Post 2 of 2) Lanara wakes up before Tiberius, surprisingly, and she sidles closer to the man she loves, cherishing this moment that she can just drink in every detail of his perfection. Resting her chin upon his chest, she focuses on his face, the way the light filters through the blinds and brightens his features. Handsome. Those wavy blonde locks she loves ruffling, the perfect pout that she could spend hours kissing, the amber hues she grew lost in during every lock of their eyes. -Her- man. She lowers her gaze to study his lean yet muscular form and she feels tears stinging her eyes, as she thinks on all the occasions where he had possessively pulled her closer during intense moments, the way their forms fit together during a passionate night, and the strength beneath his skin that threatens those that wish to harm his lady. Twin flames. Lanara shifts so that she can stare at Tiber’s face once more, breathing in his scent, as she lazily trails her pointer finger across his chest in the shape of a heart. The look of love mingles with her feelings of despair, as she knows her time with him is coming to an end. It had been four days since their attack on The Basement, and she had slept through most of the past three, as any remnants of her energy had been zapped on the return trip. The moments when she is awake are spent cuddling Cinder or admiring the dream village project that Tiber began before they had planned to take down Ambers. When was the last time she ate? Lana honestly cannot remember, but she seems to have lost her appetite at some point. Her cough is mostly suppressed these days, but when she does have an episode, it ends with a spat of blood in a napkin and a fierce ache in her lungs. The nosebleeds are minimal too, as though her body, along with her mind, have given up on the fight to live. She hadn’t even bothered removing the hourglass necklace to see just how much life had been sucked out of her in the past few days. Lana had considered stealing one of the vials of serum from Alastor’s lab, but with all the excitement surrounding Ezra’s death, it had slipped her mind. Tiber would likely be willing to turn her, but she refuses to force an imprint on the man, and he loathes the curse he carries. Besides… What if she rejects the shift from elf to lycan? Fleetingly, she thinks of Celeste, Violet, and Corrine, and she wonders which of them will take her place if Tiber becomes the alpha of the pack. They will need a luna, right? Not wanting to dwell on things outside of her control, the witch lifts her head and places a lingering kiss to Tiber’s lips, before trailing gentle nibbles along his jaw and whispering in his ear, “Wake up, Babe… It’s already late morning.”

Tiber (1 of 2):: Tiber was lucky he was able to move the pack as smoothly as he did. Life on the edge was his typical world, and well, soon with each individual in the pack, it would become their way of life too. Did the man need to teach them to pickpocket? Be persuasive? No, Tiberius. Tiber is going about this all wrong. Thievery sly traits are -not- what need to be taught. Working with the curse that coursed through veins was what needed to be taught. Fool. Teaching the group of rescues was not what was important, however. Keeping the group hidden was what the Catalian needed to accomplish in this very moment. That and that he needed to be attentive to the Kelvarian elf who had been dwindling away right before his illusion-filled eyes. She had been an illusion. The perfect sculpt of her. The facade he saw. Then, there were her niceties she held towards the pack. The group had the perfect fits. The perfect snacks. Was she even supplying him with -game boards-? Yes, everyone, Tiber and Lanara had a fight about the last one. Tiber found it appalling to provide entertainment and that they could just sit in the storage unit until it was safe. What a ‘prince charming’. Lanara thought otherwise. The pack was lucky they had her, okay? Internally, he was hoping that would not change soon.

Tiber (2 of 2):: Tiber, in the past, had been sleeping lightly with Lanara around since she told she was going to die soon. With the past events of Alastor Ambers, the blonde had come to a conclusion. He wanted her to live. He wanted to be selfish. So this morning, as the sun rises, Tiberius is in deeper slumber. At ease that the witch will follow through with the decision for her to risk lycanthrope. Risk another curse, for the curse she held had no other percentage of survival. Risk dying--at least it had been a shot, and he was confident Lanara would be willing to take it, and be his. He breathes deeply, and as she begins to circle her finger across his chest, he pulls out of his slumber. The man does not open his eyes, however. Her mocha skin touching him brought him peace, and peace had been hard to come by the past several days. Slow, gentle lips linger on him and the man instantly responds before inhaling sharply when she pulls back. ‘Wake up’ and with a steady voice and a small smile, he begins to speak with his eyes still closed. “Can’t I just enjoy a late morning. I can think of ways to make it a late afternoon,” he smirks with a coyness of other thoughts before he opens one eye to look over her face. Every detail about her… They could spend the day in bed, right? Only them. “You want me to go check on them, don’t you?” He meant the pack stored in the unit. “Are they really going to keep being -this- needy?” It was a joke, for he knew that he had been planning out a settlement. Planning with the Yule gift Lanara had gotten him. The model kit. A way to plan out his--their--perfect bit of land.

Lanara grins at the reply she earns, for she would love nothing more than to spend the entire day in bed, to just have them lose themselves in each other and forget the rest of the world. The pack could hang out in the storage unit playing the games she -insisted- were needed! They could just ‘forget’ that she’s going to leave this realm and enjoy a few hours, right? With a sigh, she realizes that their views aren’t realistic, so she places another kiss to Tiber’s lips, “Come on. I’ll make you some breakfast and then we’ll get going.” The witch heads over to the closet and proceeds to get dressed, though it’s as she goes to button her jeans, she realizes that she’s lost a considerable amount of weight. She has dropped at least two sizes this past week, and her once skin tight denims have fallen from hip huggers to knee grazers. “Oh…” If Tiber should glance her way, he would see the look of panic on her face, so she tries to mask her surprise by simply pulling a sundress from a hanger. It’s not her favorite article of clothing, but she had worn it when she was on the thinner side and had first returned to the lands. The pale green shift swallows her frame, so she rummages in the closet until she finds a belt, which she secures over her hips to give her a semblance of curves. “So… I’m heading to the sanctuary to say my goodbyes to the animals…” She hesitates, as though she were thinking of including him, but then thinks better of it. This should be done privately. Lana knows she’s going to fall apart the second she gives Aspen a parting hug and she doesn’t want to put Tiber through further heartache. “And, I was thinking you could go visit the pack? Maybe you guys can work on bonding or something. I know you aren’t much of a team player, but for this to all work out, you guys are going to need to learn to trust each other.” Finally, she finds the shoes she’s looking for, and she steps into them, before she heads over to the mirror and runs a comb through her sleek locks. Lana frowns at her reflection and considers putting on some makeup, but why bother, if she’s only going to cry it all off? “What do you want for breakfast, Babe?” Chocolate hues land on Tiber as she watches him through the looking glass, and she feels her heart swell with pride, “You did the right thing, you know? And… I’m proud of you.” Even if he’s complained every step of the way and broke a promise that had killed half a dozen people… The witch is proud of her man

Tiber reaches around her to graze fingers along her back. Those fingers trail to her hair to brush strands out of her face that he was beginning to notice looked a little thinner today. He kisses her briefly in autopilot as he observes her. She pulls away from him, and he sits up in bed and stares at her from the bed. He does not move as he watches her slide into loose fitting denim. A hand reaches up to scratch the side of his head, and there is an uncomfortableness that settles in his gut at watching her fumble with clothes. There had been a finalization that she truly did not have long, and yes, Tiber. No wasting hours in bed. As she mentions the animals at the sanctuary, he pauses, and his lips part, but he could not say what he wanted to. She talks of planning their day, and he inhales, but he still does not talk because… she is talking that ‘he’ was going to be the only one getting to know the pack-mates. She is off-putting, and the hope had been sucked out of her. He ignores the breakfast question, and her last words of her being proud of him feel as if he was losing her all over again. He shrugs out of the covers before moving behind her. Amber eyes stare through the mirror behind her, and his hands settle on her shoulders gingerly. “What if you did not have to say goodbye?” Was this another flirty banter that was trying to keep her in bed with him? His face, however, was inexpressive as he stared at her. Clearly, he is talking of an alternative. “I know that you talked about vampirism being a cure, but something you would -never- want, nor would I want that for you,” he begins. “But, there are other ways to hold on, and I love you to do the crazy. You -know- that for a fact.” His tone is still cool and even. He was coming at a gentle approach. Slow words. Careful words. “You’re fading, Lana, and.. Instead of wasting anymore days… time. I think you need to fight. No more distractions. Fight. With me. For you.” He scratches the back of his head with one hand. “Lana, we can turn you to become… like us. I can turn you. I know it’s a chance, but it would be a chance at life. Don’t you want to fight? Stop avoiding what is happening,” through the looking glass. He stands and stares over her searching for a reaction from the woman. Of course, he was expecting for her to fall into his request.

Lanara senses a lecture coming on and she assumes it’s that Tiber wants her to do -something- for the pack or perhaps he’s hoping to go along to the animal sanctuary as he did have a little bonding session with Ranger. She’s about to teasingly turn around and bop him on the nose, but it’s his next statement that has her eyes growing moist, because she had -not- been expecting an offer. Tiberius Lowell claims that he is the saving grace of Lanara Banks, that she can join his pack of genetically modified orphans, and that she won’t have to say goodbye to the things she adores. It sounds like he’s already made his mind up, and the casualness of his words is irking the witch, because it’s -her- decision to make, and her life to live. Is he only offering because he doesn’t want the responsibility of taking care of the six people that they rescued? Was this offer truly from his heart, stemming from the fact that they are twin flames? Lanara shakes her head and closes her eyes, because she had already faced the fact that it’s game over for her, and that Tiber will eventually move on to lead a pack and fall for one of the three females. She hadn’t seen herself in any scenario beyond saying goodbye. “Why are you offering me now? Today? I only have a few days left, Tiber…” The hair brush is violently slammed against the dresser as she turns around, her long locks whipping him across the face, “I know you -can- turn me, but I don’t -want- you to turn me… Don’t you understand? My Aunt Sharna said that we are soulmates, twin flames, each other's one and only, and I -know- that is true. But… I want marriage, a cute house, pets, adventures, all of that! Those are things that you said aren’t in your plans… And, say you do shift and bite me, okay? And what if I freaking die in your arms and reject the change!” She lifts her hands to shove him back, her voice rising several octaves, “How would you feel if it’s on your conscience that -you- were the one to kill me? And you would have to live with the fact that you will never find an actual mate, you won’t imprint with another, and loneliness isn’t something I will wish on you… Because, I love you.” Tears are now streaming down her cheeks, and she feels shame, because she hadn’t meant to blow up like this, but perhaps she had been bottling it all for too long. “I love you and that’s why I can’t let you turn me. Because if I should die? I want to die knowing that you at least have a chance with another woman, a chance at happiness, that you wouldn’t have if you waste your mark on me only for me to die.” She eyes the door, as she wants to go and brush her teeth, “Besides. You told me that you hate what you are… If I became that, maybe you wouldn’t be attracted to me anymore.”

Tiber :: The way Lanara’s face falls to his attempt makes the room become hollow. The slam of the hairbrush on the dresser causes the man to take his hands off of her and lift them in a defensive ‘woah’ stance and her hair makes his hands block his face. “You didn’t tell me about your health for months, Lanara! And you’re telling -me- -ME- that -I- have been waiting?” His inexpressive features turn into a withstanding, stern gaze. ‘I don’t -want- you to turn me… Don’t you understand?’ No. No he does not understand. He will -not- understand. She lists everything she wants or… wanted. Marriage. She wanted marriage. Was loving the woman right now not enough for her to stay? She did not know what the future brought. Where his mind was. “How could I be thinking of the future when you are -dying-.” As she talks about the possibility of dying, his posture becomes motionless. Hands lower to his sides at her rejection and her retaliation against the question he gave her. Her pain strikes the blow against his chest, and with a tight-lined gaze, he is instantly shoved back without any motion of going against her. The man takes the angry blow and it causes him to run a hand through his thick, wavy hair. The pushing him away makes him look away from her because, right now, she was choosing death over… herself. She was giving up. “Have you ever thought that maybe my conscience is telling me I would be making the worst decision to just watch you -die-?! You’re dying, Lana, and I love -you-! I want you to live. Your sister hasn’t even married yet. Your best friends are watching you go. I’m not about to take care of them while you walk away from your own life.” Pause. “This is a better risk I’m willing to take because I can’t live without you, but -clearly- that’s out of the conversation. Right? Right?” He throws those words at her that have a harsh venomous sting to them. There is no gentleness in his tone. Right now, he is yelling at her. Something he had not done in a long time. The man did not want anyone else. He wanted her. He wanted her. He wanted… her. Anger came from sadness. There is a glassy glaze that forms over his irises and he bites back the hurt that she throws at him. She talks about how he would not be attracted to her and he shakes his head with parted lips. He had been thrown for a whirl. “Attraction? Lose my attraction, are you serious?” He does not give his two cents because right now he is in disbelief. “You don’t want to fight and you want to just spend your last days just… waiting?” There is a long pause he takes before looking over her. Wherever she goes about the room, he is following before he points to the door. His tone becomes softer, and right now, his golden gaze cannot look at her anymore. “You want to say your goodbyes? Say your goodbyes.” His voice is quiet now. Even, and then, he turns to move to the kitchen because right now, he cannot be in the same room as her.

Lanara screams back at Tiber, hating that they are fighting in her final days, because she wants to leave this realm with happy memories. “I kept it from you because I was protecting you… Just like I’m trying to protect you now!” Once the man reaches his tipping point and raises his voice in anger, she feels herself wanting to escape the room, to curl up in a closet somewhere and whimper like a wounded animal. It’s too ‘familiar’ and he promised to control himself in her presence as it would cause flashbacks, he even had a flawless record for months, but she had brought this on herself. The stubborn witch tries to find the strength to manage a retort, because she’s known for having to have the last word, but she cannot think of anything to say at this moment. Pain is all she feels, both physical and mental, and his venomous tone is making her head hurt. Would he truly rather try to turn her and fail, than to see her die without any attempts? Perhaps Lanara isn’t tempting fate because she still harbors guilt for slaying her own daughter? Is her curse a form of penance? Tiber lowers his tone and seems unable to meet her gaze, and that hits Lana harder than his outburst from moments ago. She had never been good at goodbyes, but this time she was hopeful that she would leave on good terms with everyone. The bucket list had been mostly fulfilled, Tiber had the pack, Taly is engaged, and her friends all are in a good place. She sincerely thought she had been doing the right thing, but the lycans words give her pause, and she realizes that all along she considered herself to be dispensable. It’s hard to accept and her vision is blurry as she continues to sob, not knowing what she can say or do to fix the situation. Lanara had messed up bigtime back in Kelvar and it seems as though she will never wake up from the nightmares that haunt her each waking moment. “Ty…” He moves into the kitchen and although her aching heart trails behind, the witch remains rooted to the bedroom floor. The couple is at an impasse. Would they break up? Should she move in with Taly? Is that what he meant about saying goodbye? Lana cannot bear the thought and so more tears are quick to flow down her cheeks, so she moves into the bathroom for privacy and slams the door. A few minutes later she appears in the kitchen, and she finds it hard to meet Tiber’s gaze, if he even glances in her direction. Lana’s eyes are bloodshot, her hands display her nerves as they tremble, and her voice is shaky as she finally speaks, “I’m sorry that my decision upset you… But, we both agreed to enjoy our time together, even if my time isn’t all that long. I honestly am happier than I’ve ever been in my life and -yes- that is how I wished to spend my final days… Waiting. As long as I could wait at your side, it felt like enough.” She had accepted her fate, but Tiberius wouldn’t, because like her, he was thinking with his heart. The witch moves to fill the cats food and water bowls and without bothering to pour herself a cup of coffee, she quietly exits their apartment.

Tiber heard the door to the bathroom slam as he leaned against the kitchen counter. His knuckles are white, and the man stares with an openly dazed gaze. He felt dented. How had she not wanted this? She was leaving him. He had felt that she had been content leaving him. The strangers she would be leaving him with. Did she think that was what he wanted? His physicality remains motionless as he is still pressed against the counter facing the window to the outside as she approaches him again. The witch’s presence makes the atmosphere tight. His screaming had made him feel awkward and guilty because he promised her he would try to keep himself at bay. The Catalian did not do well with his emotions, and he had been on hyper-sensitivity. ‘Ty…’ his head lifts, but eyes cannot gaze upon her still. Through the thick doors, he could hear her sobs, and the lycan did not see the product that was presented from the door, for he could only imagine what damage he caused. Eyes close as she talks and he is stoic and stone-like in his posture as he keeps palms pressed down for steadiness. An ounce of steadiness. His heart had been beating too loud. She speaks her truth. Her wants, and because he loves her, all he could do is offer a faint nod, but no words before she closes the door to their apartment. When the door closes, a hand would knock a glass off the counter to shatter it. Leaving the broken pieces in the empty room without her.

Breathtaking Cliffs

Lanara (Post 1 of 3) After the largest fight of their relationship occurred, Lanara left the apartment in tears, and she assumes that Tiber likely relied on the comfort of the bottle. She -hates- when he’s angry with her, not that she blames him this time, but the fact that he couldn’t even stand the sight of her standing in the kitchen had truly unhinged her bottled up emotions. The witch wanders aimlessly around Cenril, forgetting the fact that her original plans had been to say goodbye to her companions at the animal sanctuary. Tomorrow, she had intended to meet with Talyara one last time, and later in the day to give final hugs to her kin that had now made Enchantment their home. “I’m through with goodbyes…” Lana’s vision is blurred with tears as she wonders why Tiber couldn’t understand her reservations about wanting to be turned into a lycan. She also questions why she can’t comprehend why the male wants her to remain amongst the living. The hours tick by as she wanders about the lands, with no specific destination in mind, for all she can think about is the ache she feels in her chest. Tiberius Lowell is the man of her dreams, the love of her life, her literal twin flame, and the mere suggestion of him being with another woman or being gone from her life tears her world asunder. She only returned for -him- so that he would have a pack and a family, and so that he could put his past to rest. Never had she imagined he would say those three words or that they would live together as a couple with an actual label. Lanara is full on sobbing at this point and passersby keep glancing in her direction, a few pausing in their travels to see if the woman is alright, while others pretend they don’t see her at all as if a crying woman is the devil. Tiber sees Lanara. He sees all her perfections, all her flaws, and he puts up with her unpredictable mood swings and impulses to bring home strays. But… Does Lanara see Lanara?

Lanara (Post 2 of 3) The witch stumbles over a rock in her path and pauses to see exactly how far she had wandered, her tearfilled gaze recognizing the sign that leads to the zoo in Xalious. The tumultuous thoughts continue to sizzle as she pays the admission and wanders around the large area, pausing as a zookeeper is giving a demonstration on the habits of penguins. Lanara hears how they mate for life, learn to adapt to their environment, and how their tuxedo appearance works as a camouflage so that they aren’t easily hunted up in Frostmaw. It’s then, as her tapered ears are taking in knowledge that she already knows tenfold, that she begins to see a light at the end of the tunnel. Much like the penguins, wolves also mate for life, and Tiber is -her- life mate as much as he is -her- lifeline. The issue isn’t that she’s scared of dying, it’s that she’s afraid of living as something he may find less desirable. She -wants- to live at her Catalian’s side, to one day be his wife, and she is eager to see his plans for the individuals they had rescued. Are Tiber’s feelings equivalent to hers? It -had- taken him a bit to catch up in the ‘L’ word department, so she furrows her brows in concern. The ability to shift into a wolf has secretly been a dream of hers, ever since she was a little girl, and her only hesitation is that she will entrap Tiber into a future that he may not want. “But… He loves me and I trust him.” A few kids glance her way and a mother lifts a finger to tell her to ‘hush’ as the zookeeper is now feeding the penguins, and she glares at the woman before turning to leave. “It’s not Tiber’s fault that I have low self-esteem or that everyone who ever promised to love me and keep me safe has abandoned me in the end! It’s -MY- fears of not being enough for him… He may see that one day… That I’m not the prettiest or the most powerful and that is what scares me. Death would prevent me from that pain, but I’ve been such a fool…” Lana’s steps quicken as she knows what she has to do, and before long she’s back in Cenril; perusing swimwear at the market, purchasing meats from the butcher, and her earlier thoughts of despair shift to ones of determination.

Lanara (Post 3 of 3) Lanara strolls down the alleys until she finds the large storage facility where the six have been living, and although Tiber has given her a key in the case of an emergency, she raps lightly on the door before she heads inside. She didn’t know if he would be happy or not to see her, but it looks as though she has managed to earn approving glances from Bjorn and Greyston. Or maybe it’s just because she looks smoking hot in a black bikini and strappy stilettos, with her long, loosely curled locks reaching to her elbows. Tybalt runs over to the witch and excitedly begins to babble, “You said you were going to leave us, but you are still here! Does that mean you are staying in the lands? I really liked that puzzle of the dinosaurs! Can you buy me some more? When can I visit the animals at your work?” Lanara smirks and ruffles Tybalt’s hair, “Yes… I -am- staying.” She pointedly looks at Tiber, hoping he will pick up on her hint, rather than think she’s merely telling the kid what he wants to hear. “I will get your more toys soon, and while we aren’t going to visit any animals today… I was thinking we should get out of here for a day of fun in the sun!” A massive tote bag hangs on her shoulder, and she drops it to the floor, “Hey guys! So! I know of a super awesome place where we can all go swimming, lounge around, and eat yummy food. I even bought stuff to make s’mores!” In the bag are pink one-piece swimsuits for the women, blue swim trunks for the men, and a pair of orange swim trunks with embroidered blue dinosaurs for Tybalt. “Go get changed and we will get out of here in a bit!” The couple hadn’t discussed any of this, so she’s hoping that her whim of an idea doesn’t backfire! Lana doesn’t wait to see the reactions of the others, as she’s sure they cannot wait to be out of the boring one room house they have been in for four days, but she does overhear one of the girls asking what s’mores are, and she knows they are in for a well deserved treat! For once, even Corrinne isn’t complaining! The witch makes her way over to Tiber and holds out two ‘gifts’ as a peace offering, “Hey. I know we didn’t discuss taking them out, but the place we’re going is on private property, and I -know- we are going to be safe. Who knew Gordyn owned land in Cenril?! Anyways! I already have everything set up, and there is even a secret pool nearby where I thought we could finish our talk from this morning?” Her voice trails off as she passes a pair of black swim trunks with the image of Shishi, The People’s Champ, embroidered on them. Lana definitely -hates- when her boyfriend is upset, and she knows the way to his heart is usually red meat, the blue demon idol, or intimate moments that she cannot enact in front of their future packmates. “I was a fool, Tiber…” Lowering her gaze, she presses a small rock into his palm, “You’re my penguin.” Maybe she will explain -that- part later, because the others have finished getting dressed and are waiting to go have some fun.

Tiber (1 of 3), eventually, cleaned up the broken glass before he left. Last thing Lanara needed to see when she came home was left-over aggression spilled on the ground. The man cleans himself up before heading over to the storage unit. He throws on a simple white t-shirt, a brown jacket over the top, and khaki-colored pants and brown boots. Not a Cenril-sun outfit by any means, but it’s Tiberius, so there was that. Once he leaves, the people bustle by him and most of them are a blur because all he could think about is that Lanara is giving up. Lanara is giving up, and he just screamed her out of the apartment. Would she come back? Should he go after her instead? Apologize and help her live out her final moments even if he lay silent in his own anger? Whatever would let Lanara rest easier, he was willing to do past the boiling blood beneath the surface. He would hold her until she took that final breath. Comfort her. Brush her hair and tell her a story. The thought has his heart aching and still those glossy eyes that still could not release tears due to his hot-headedness. Although the man yearned for Lanara Banks to stay, he knew that she lived the last three months to the fullest, and he could keep that memory with him forever, right? He scratches the side of his head when he passes the Whaler’s. Tiberius had to be stronger than that when she was gone, too.

Tiber (2 of 3):: The street dwindles with lack of patrons who stare at the man who looked ready to explode. A hand stuffed in a pocket with a face of stone as he kept his thoughts internal. Tiberius never wore his heart on his sleeve, and today was one of the first times he showed it. Showed that his heart could not live without the witch, but he could learn. Lanara had that much trust that he could, and that had to be worth something. The lycan moves through a gate before passing several storage units. Then, he comes across the one he owned. He looks around for any passerbys before unlocking the storage and going inside. The crowd watches the broken man enter the unit. A single bag is carried. “Breakfast,” honestly it was just a bag of fruit. How was Tiberius going to do this? Take care of all these people when he could barely take care of himself? “You look sad,” Celeste says quietly as she feels the intensity of Tiber’s closed-off wall through her empathic abilities. “Where’s Lanara?” The rest of the group is silent as they watch the interaction between the pale, blue-eyed blonde, and the sun-kissed Catalian. “She’s, uh, here,” he cannot answer. Instead he grabs some apples from the bag and tosses one for each lycan their way. “We’ll get a better meal shortly. I got tied up. Greyson, I need to talk to you,” and Tiberius moves to talk to Greyson about the plans Tiber has been thinking of for moving the pack. They talk of Sage and contemplate areas and ideas before another light enters the unit.

Tiber (3 of 3):: Eyes turn as the brunette bursts through the door like the happiest chocolate-eyed witch in all the land. Instantly, Tiber is alert until he realizes it is… her. The Kelvarian. Is that a bikini? The way those stilettos shape the woman’s calves, and the derriere, Tiberius could only part his mouth. The atmosphere changes, and Tiber tries to peel his eyes away from the girl to focus on Greyson, but Greyson’s mouth has dropped. Tiber reaches to knock his hand against the bottom of Greyson’s chin to put it up. “Dude.” Greyson shakes his head and then begins to whistle and look somewhere else other than the elf. ‘Yes, I -am- staying’ echoes through the man’s ears before a stare gazes the woman’s way. Staying. She was staying? Staying in the storage unit, so she does not have to bare another night with his toxic yelling? No, there had been a look towards the Catalian. He feels his cheeks flush hot with her words--an odd reaction. She was staying. With him. Amber eyes watch her as she passes out swim trunks and his face twists. “Beach day? Lan--” Gordyn has a place. Who the hell was Gordyn? A private piece of land. Then, she moves to him and pulls out the gifts. He does not pay attention to the gifts until he hears the words that leave her mouth. She was a fool--no. Lanara was scared he had concluded. Automatically, the gifts are ignored, and the penguin comment before his lips are pressed onto her own. He could care less about the crowd that stares at them and he pulls back. He cannot say much at the moment with the eyes watching them. “Blue Demon swim trunks? Well, now I can’t be a buzz-kill, eh?” As for the rock, he grips it tight, for she was his rock. He then looks to the rest of the group. “You heard the woman. Beach day, so get dressed!” Wow, bossy.

Lanara lifts a hand to press it against Tiber’s cheek as she deepens their kiss, earning another catcall from Greyson, which has her smirking. She hadn’t expected her boyfriend to show affection in front of the others, likely because all of her exes had been complete a-holes. One wouldn’t let her have friends, the other was a loner, and the few she dated had either treated her like a trophy or only showed attachment in private. Her cheeks flush a little as though she can read Tiber’s thoughts, “It’s not a silly idea, I promise! It will help us all to bond a little and we -all- can use a day to just unwind.” A few moments later, everyone has finished changing into their swimwear and Lanara is pleased that they all fit their forms to perfection. Who would think that being a swimsuit model would pay off? “Okay… I will lead as I know the way, I guess? Bjorn! Why don’t you walk up front with me, and maybe Tiber and Greyson can take the rear?” This earns Lanara a third whistle from Greyson, which has her rolling her eyes, “Okay. So stay close, try not to attract any attention, and be safe. Once we are on Gordyn’s property, which is super private, you all can let loose and have a blast.” She smiles, trying to reassure them that she has this under control, that no one should be worried. They are all eager to get out of here, so no one puts up much of a fight, except for Lanara as Bjorn -insists- that he drapes an arm around her shoulders as they walk to their destination. Every so often Lana tries to throw his arm off of her frame, but she’s grateful that they are somewhat ahead of the others, so she can inquire about his health, the things he had to endure for the past few days, and how he had felt about becoming a lycan. The male is honest, and thankfully he seems ‘okay’ with being a wolf man, and then he begins to ask Lana questions, most of which center around how he can pick up human chicks. “Bjorn. You can date a wolf woman, too, you know? Or any race, really! You don’t exactly have to tell every chick you meet that you are a werewolf, right? For now, you need to focus on learning how to train your inner wolf and all of that stuff.” Dating could come later, and perhaps he would find a mate in either Celeste of Violet? Lana wouldn’t wish Corrinne on anyone, least of all one of the pack! “We are here! Oh! I forgot to mention that we have to jump off of this cliff, first! I hope that’s not a problem?” There -is- a private path through the woods that winds down to the beach and large pool at the bottom, which Lanara intends to use, as she doesn’t feel it’s safe enough for her to launch herself off the top of a waterfall. Would she survive the drop? This activity will show Tiber which of the group is the most fearless, and Lana stands to the side, helping Tybalt put ‘swimmies’ on his arm, so that he doesn’t drown with only having the use of a single arm. Corrine crosses her arms and glares at Lana, “Of course there’s a catch, right? You guys aren’t actually buying her good girl act, are you? She doesn’t want to be our ‘friend’ and she’s -never- going to belong in this group.” The witch doesn’t bother paying any attention to the words of the ill-mannered woman, as she’s more concerned with keeping the child alive, “Bjorn! Get over here and blow this up for me.”

Tiber was not shy, by any means. The guy was protective, okay? A little possessive, but that was what came with the wolf-traits that were inherited. “Unwind? Any booze in that bag of yours?” He smirks. Unwinding was exactly what was needed after the blow that happened between the couple. A hand slips in Lanara’s as she directs the group. Tiber lets the woman take the lead, and if any knuckle-heads would reject, he would put them in their place. His gaze lingers on her features, for he liked that she took the lead in moments. Lanara had been strong-willed--a fighter. There was relief that washed over him, but there was also a fear that the woman still did not want to take up his offer that blew the apartment up earlier. He keeps his lips closed on this one. Unwind, Tiber. Unwind. Though, how could he unwind when she was -dying-? Should he bring it up? No. Terrible idea, idiot. Once the pack is in order, he takes the back and the whole time he is glaring at Bjorn who is wrapping his arm around his girlfriend. There would have been jealousy that hit him, but it was adamant that Lanara had been trying to tell Bjorn to bug-off and find someone else in a gentle way which pleases Tiberius. Violet, however, overhears the conversation that Bjorn and Lanara have. “Pfft, looks like his hormones are going crazy since he’s turned all wolf-a-fied,” the girl crosses her arms in her snarky way. The group comes to the clearing of the cliff, and Tiberius comes to a halt with the pack. His fingers fiddle with the rock in his hands as he stares at the ledge. “Cliff…?” Was she kidding? As Corrine runs her mouth, Tiber rolls his eyes. “Corrine, shut the hell up,” his tone is flat, but he carries a face of agitation towards the journalist. Celeste looks down the steep cliff. With the nerves that surround the cliff, Celeste begins to rub her neck uncomfortably. “I… I don’t know about this?” She was not scared, but the anxiety that wafts off the others makes her uneasy. “Everyone seems so uncertain.” Celeste, however, was able to manipulate water, so really, if any danger came, she would be able to help anyone struggling. Luckily they had a water-manipulator. Bjorn instantly moves to blow to create the floating device for the kid who seems to be bouncing with anticipation that he gets to -swim- today with only one arm. Tybalt is truly ecstatic. Tiber is scrunching his nose because… is this kid going to make it out alive with swimmies on just -one- arm? “Uh, Lana, this kid have a better route?” Then again, if someone was at the bottom, maybe it would be better? Greyson moves forward, however, in his pride. “I can go, and I can see you suckas at the bottom,” but he does not go yet until Tiberius says ‘yes’.

Lanara knows that she has a lot to talk about with Tiber, but right now their priority is getting the pack safely off the ledge and to the privacy of where they would be spending the rest of the day. Her heart worries that Tiber may retract his offer once he hears about all her concerns, especially as it had taken her months to warm up to the idea of becoming a lycan. Her heart races and perhaps Celeste also can sense her anxiety, so she directs her focus to a blue faced Bjorn who is -still- blowing up the swimmies. “Make sure they are full.” She grins, having just decided that since she saved Bjorn’s ‘life’ in a sense, he is now her wolf-bitch. It could have ended badly for the ex-guard, and there are worse things to be, so being at Lana’s beck and call isn’t a terrible future! Lana mhm’s at Tiber’s words, “He will be fine. I promise.” Chocolate hues lift to lock with amber, and she forgets their fight from earlier, the fact that she’s dying, the worries about the pack, all of it. All that’s in her mind right now is how she wants to just keep getting lost in those unfathomable depths of the Catalian’s dreamy gaze. As she’s bent over and putting the swimmies on Tybalt’s arms, her hues still fixed on her boyfriend, the others follow after Greyson and dive off the cliff and safely land in the water, far below, with a splash. Bjorn takes the boys hand and the two make their jump together, so that Tybalt will have extra help if the swimmies don’t do the trick. Lana gives that shy smile to Tiber as she retrieves her tote bag, as she plans to walk down the path, however, in a split second, she feels the breath knocked out of her as she stumbles backwards off of the cliff. The witch flails helplessly in the air, a silent scream caught in her throat, as her dark eyes see the form of Corrinne pointing and laughing at her from above. It’s not the first time she’s been pushed around, but Lana is legitimately panicking during her descent, because unlike the lycans, she cannot bounce back so easily. Plus, her health is already failing! With an ‘oomph’ she lands in the frigid water, her right arm sliced open by the jagged rocks that line the circular pool, as the brunette goes under. A few moments tick by, Violet is the one that points out that Corrinne has pushed Lanara, and if someone is to try and help the woman, they would find that she has already resurfaced and is coughing up water. “That… Bitch!” Fuming, Lana clutches her bleeding upper arm and treads water in place, assessing the damage. She won’t need stitches, but it hurts like hell. Also, the loose curls she spent an hour working on, have completely been destroyed. So much for looking all pretty for Tiber! The leather stilettos must weigh ten pounds a piece, so she starts to swim over towards shore, struggling a little but managing to hold her own. Meanwhile, Tybalt is floating and squealing in glee at being in the water, and the rest seem to want to wait for further instructions. Tiber has yet to make the jump, along with the infamous ex-journalist, Corrine.

Tiber gives Greyson the thumbs-up which leads to some backwards, show-off flip out of cockiness. Violet repeats the word that rhymes with ‘spit’ over and over again as she panic-jumps. Celeste looks weary at Violet and follows after gracefully. Tiberius still stands and waits for the rest to go. Tybalt still makes the Catalian uneasy because another kid dying because of him was not what he wanted on his hands. “Uh, try to float on your back if all else fails,” it was a stumped, awkward comment. The boy, however, is resilient and gives Tiber the biggest thumbs up and the fattest grin on his face one has ever seen. Tiberius then catches the witch’s sultry gaze. His eyes linger on hers as she bends, and well, he should hop in the water, soon, huh? He watches the happy-go-lucky kid as the boy takes off with Bjorn before shouting ‘wahoo!’ in the distance. The blonde moves to the witch like a spell--how he would love to ditch the rest of the pack and keep her to himself, but then the Kelvarian is being shoved off the cliff. Amber eyes widen because… Lanara is not the picturesque woman of strength right now with her health. The Catalian looks over the cliff and watches the woman scramble in the air before her arm catches some rocks on the bottom. “The hell are you doing?!” A light ignites within him and with the cackling wench to his right, he automatically takes his foot and kicks the ex-journalist in the rear out of her own surprise before she squeals as she falls off the cliff. Better turn in air somehow, Corrine or else she will have some broken ribs with the belly flop that was about to happen. Corrine is in luck, however, as she curls her body to make sure her hands and feet block her stomach. Tiber instantly takes off his white shirt before jumping next without any hesitations. Once he splashes down at the bottom, he reaches for Corrine to dunk her and hold her before Greyson has to pull Tiberius off of the woman. “Tiber, stop! You’re going to kill her!” Greyson heftily pulls at the man’s shoulder. “Isn’t that the damned point?! Seems to be the theme for today with this one!” Though, Tiber’s arms are pried away before some of the group joins in to direct Tiberius to the shoreline. Corrine is bursting out of the water and gasping for air that was taken from her. Perhaps it was best to check on the traumatized girlfriend now, Tiber. “Are you okay?” The man looks bewildered as droplets drip from his hair around his concerned face. A hand runs through his wet hair and he slicks it back.

Lanara cannot stop the slow smile that creeps onto her face, as she sees Corrinne literally falling off the cliff, much as she had moments prior. Still. The wench lands far more gracefully than Lana, that is, until Tiber follows suit and attempts to drown her in retaliation. Should she yell at her boyfriend to stop? Nah. If anything, it looks as though Lanara is preparing to clap her hands, but she receives a ‘look’ from Violent, so she merely mutters, “I should have bought some popcorn…” Greyson manages to unlatch Tiber from Corrine and everyone falls silent, except for the coughing of the nearly drowned woman. The witch unstraps her shoes and is dumping water from them when Tiber makes his way over, and she diverts her gaze, as though suddenly embarrassed. “Sorry. -That- wasn’t supposed to happen… I planned on all of you having this whole special bonding moment, while I would have faded from view and just worked on the food and wandering through the forest for a bit.” She shouldn’t be here, she thinks, because Corrinne is right. She doesn’t fit in amongst them, as she’s not of the same blood. “I’m fine.” Blood still trickles down her arm, but every few moments she cleans it with water and applies more pressure. Lana’s arm would heal, however, her confidence has dropped into single digits, so she clears her throat and glances around the area. It’s the perfect setting for a day of fun in the sun, while in the privacy of the mountains and forests that surround them. The sandy beach is to the north, there is a large flat rock that has several food stations set up, and of course there is an ice enchanted box with plenty of liquor. Perhaps she shouldn’t be offering alcohol to the group of teens, but she wouldn’t let any of them drink to the point that they couldn’t be controlled. Except maybe Corrine, she deserves to be knocked from her pedestal! Lana smiles faintly at Tiber, her hero, but the smile is short lived because she knows they have to have ‘the talk’ soon. “Why don’t we all go grab a bite to eat?” Tybalt eventually swims over their way and he eagerly trails after the witch, as he watches her work the enchanted plates that are used to heat up the food. Corrinne is heard cussing up a storm, and rather than be angry at Tiber, she continues to rant about Lanara! “She is the -worst- and needs to just die already! Ezra is dead because of her, and if Tiber has plans on being our ‘leader’ then he better ditch that witch! She will not be a part of our pack, right?!” She squeezes water from her ponytail and glares at Celeste and Violet, hoping to intimidate them into taking her side in all of this. “I -will- be Luna of us one day… -IF- I decide to stay with all of you misfits, so you all better wise up… Or else!” It’s a win-win for Corrinne, because Tiber is hot, and she’s always held the idea that she’s better than everyone else. Meanwhile, Bjorn has witnessed all of this and he clears his throat and snorts, “Wait. Wasn’t it -Lanara- that planned a fun outing for all of us? I didn’t see her push anyone off of a cliff… Nor did she kill Ezra. If you want to blame his death on someone, blame me!” Corrinne angrily splashes Bjorn, who in turn lifts both of his middle fingers at the woman, and before long it’s a free-for-all of splashing in the water as everyone joins in. Tybalt and Lana stare at the group, trying to calm everyone down, “Come on, guys… Let’s eat…” This is -not- how the witch planned the day unfolding! “Um…” Should she pull Tiber into the private pool a short distance away, though out of sight and earshot? Let the pack work out their indifferences and kill each other? Or should she continue to play the role of peacekeeper?

Tiber shakes his head. “No, babe, it was great! And the day is not over. Don’t let one sore loser ruin it,” eyes trail to Corrine who is panting on the shoreline now. There was a feeling of guilt, but the woman deserved a panicked dunk, okay? As the blood oozes, Tiber does his best to help the woman wash the blood. There was not much he could do. The bleeding would stop eventually. Pressure was the best. Even if Lanara’s confidence level is dwindling, Tiber is looking at water beads upon her mocha skin. He takes her in slowly before pressing a chaste kiss to her cheek. “Come on. Let’s ‘unwind’.” He gives her a wink before assisting her and moving through the sands. Especially with the wicked other woman around. As Corrine spills her banter. Violet looks at Celeste and when Corrine is not watching, Violet takes a finger and makes the ‘looney’ motion at her head to mock the ex-journalist. The man assists the witch with the food and the plates. He keeps Lanara in his sights and ignores the banter until the group begins to splash each other with water. Tiber glances over Lanara’s expression of disapprovement. “Yo!” He booms at the group who are splashing water at each other. “Cut the crap,” he begins. “There’s food. If you want to eat, shape up. I’m not going to listen to all of you pout, whine, or whatever the hell you wanna do at each other.” The group slows their splashing and stare at the man. “I get it. Our personalities are different, but you’re stuck here. Unless you want to risk going out on your own. So at least pretend to like each other. For today.” Tiber’s real talk. “Now, shove your faces full of food, already,” the man then turns to Lanara. “We’re going to take a break. Dish up, and let’s go,” time to breathe and take some alone time. Once he dishes up, he begins to move, hoping Lanara would trail behind. If she does follow him to break away from the rest, he would lower his voice. “Sometimes it’s best to let these things settle themselves. Their emotions are heightened. It’s harder for them to control right now. You see how I am with people, and I've been this way for years. Give them time, babe. It’ll fall into place.”

Lanara (Post 1 of 2) Lanara watches as Greyson and Bjorn are the first to give into reason, as they sprint over the sand and make a plate of food. Tybalt is the only one wearing a smile, and it warms Lana’s heart to see the boy enjoying himself. She also notices how he mostly has sweets on his plate and she vows to make him eat some real food later. Celeste and Violet are the next two that join those on the beach to grab some food, and Corrine remains in the water for at least another ten minutes, befort she too eventually caves. Perhaps it was Tiber’s speech that has them all behaving? Whatever the cause, soon enough they are all gorging on food and companionable chatter flows through the group as they decide to just focus on being outside of the storage unit. Lanara trails after Tiber, a chilled ale in her hand, though she doesn’t bother with a plate or any of the food. She will likely settle for a s’more at some point, as they are her favorite! It seems as though the lycan knows the way to their private place, and she grabs his free hand along the way, her heart beating wildly as she knows this could be a make it or break it moment for their relationship.

Lanara (Post 2 of 2) The witch takes in the sight of the tiny area that mimics the hot springs, and she glances at the watering hole that could fit two entwined forms, causing a blush to rise in her cheeks. As Tiber takes a seat and proceeds to eat, she sits at his side and collects her thoughts, as she rinses any remaining blood from her arm. It had stopped bleeding, but the horror from flying off a cliff is still embedded in Lana’s mind. “So… I want to talk to you about earlier.” She pauses, unsure where exactly to begin, but rather than sugarcoat her words she merely speaks her heart, “I love you, Tiberius Lowell. With every breath I take, every beat of my heart, and every ounce of my being… And, I’m scared... I’m scared of dying, I’m scared of losing you, I’m scared of surviving as a lycan… What if I lose my magic? Or my animal empathy? Or… What if you find me less desirable? What if you one day decide you don’t want a future with me and it’s all for nothing?” Lana feels tears pricking at her eyes and she looks away, “I want you as more than a boyfriend. I want you forever. And I don’t want that torn from me because I’m turned into something that you aren’t overly fond of.” Lycanthropy. “You can’t promise me forever, and I can’t promise you tomorrow, so I feel like we are at this impasse… But, as I was visiting the penguins at the zoo, I realized that when they choose a mate, it’s for life. They ‘woo’ their soulmate by gifting them rocks! They are at each others side through their greatest and weakest moments, in sickness and health, and even after death, they don’t find another they merely dwindle away until they meet again in the afterlife. -You- are it for me, Tiber. You are my person, my penguin, my wolf, my twin flame. Every man that has ever held me, has ended up hurting me. I never felt this alive with anyone, and I’m addicted to you.” Lana looks at Tiber’s face, a softness in her expression, “I love you, so… I -want- you turn me into a wolf. Not because I want to live, or because you want me to live. Because… Our love deserves to continue, and I’m doing this for -us- for however long into the future that may be. I hope forever.” Swallowing hard, she continues, “But, if it doesn’t go as expected, please know that I don’t hold you responsible for my death… I love you and I’m sorry about our fight. I could never be content with us being apart, you are my everything, and I just wanted you to know that.” Would he be scared away by her fears? Did spending ‘forever’ together turn him off? Lana moves to slide into the small pool, as the water is a few degrees warmer than the air, and unlike lycans she doesn’t have that added protection from the cold. It’s also so that if Tiber is to turn away or tell her that he’s changed his mind, that he will think her tears are droplets of water.

Tiber was really just acting ‘confident’. He truly did not know where he was going. The man just had enough confidence that Lanara would follow his hot-headed lead. Once he feels her hand, there is an ease, and he lets Lanara pull him along even if he stays at her even pace. The touch. There was a bittersweetness with her touch. Today had been full of ups and downs, but her touch made him even again. As they come to the springs, he watches the steam and finds the crevice for the two to sit. He picks at his plate. A salad of some sort is shoved in his face as he chews in silence, and he watches as she rinses the blood from her arm. His head presses against a rock wall that was behind him as he watches her. She had been so fragile lately, and his stomach turns at the thought of her rejection this morning. What had she been thinking? To come back to him so easily after he had screamed in her face? Then, as if she is reading his mind, she speaks and his chewing comes to a slow as he places his half-eaten plate to the side. “I’m--” he wanted to say sorry, but she is cutting him off on how she loves him. ‘I’m scared…’ flows through the air. He lets her talk, and he is silent as she fills the air between them with words that he holds. The rock that sits in his swim trunk pocket is felt against his leg. The metaphor of her love makes him smirk. Her way with animals was beginning to grow on him. He can understand her thought process until she says she is not fighting for her life… nor his selfishness. She is fighting for their story. He is thrown by this statement. All these fears that are being thrown at him make his hands rub against his thighs in his thought process. It was a lot. A lot to risk. “Lanara,” he begins. “I love you, you know that.” He paused. His mind touches on the fact she wants more in the future. “I was never just your boyfriend, Lanara.” He shakes his head at her nonsensical term. Boyfriend. “You are more to me than that. So much more.” More than just a girlfriend. “You’re my life,” his words are slow and he keeps those hands steady on his legs. Wearing his heart on his sleeve was the hardest thing, but if it kept her fighting, he would risk it. “I don’t want you to be scared,” he finally looks at her. A hand reaches to place on her cheek to hold her steady. “These are ‘what ifs’, and, Lanara, you and I both know we have been able to get through just about anything. You lose your magic? I’ll keep you standing. You lose your animal empathy? A new challenge is to gain an animal’s trust by just being… you.” He pauses and shakes his head. “You have me all wrong. I could -never- be not attracted to you. Drawn to you,” his eyes gaze over her bottom lip before they lift to her own again. “It’s my fear of you hating yourself. Because when you’re like me… things are hard to control. You feel regret and anguish stronger than being ‘normal’. I hate what I am for the things I’ve done. Because when I was turned, I had no one.” Beat. “You have me. All of me. And I want to continue for you to have all of me. Everyday. I love you, Lanara Banks. And I want you to fight to keep being here with me everyday. It’s a risk I’m willing to take. To love you. To watch you love, live, grow. To take away your fears.” Tiberius Lowell wanted a future. That was clear even if it was not out in front of her. Tiberius Lowell was not walking away. Instead he was there with eyes searching her own for the fear to fade for just a moment.

Lanara had expected Tiber to simply finish eating his food, make some excuse, and walk back the way they had come to rejoin his pack of misfits. She expected him to run, to avoid this serious conversation, and to leave her hanging from the cliff of rejection. So, as the male pours out his heart and assures her that he will still be attracted, that he’s willing to take risks, and that he’s always been much more than her boyfriend, it’s no wonder that she stares at him with wide eyes and tears streaming down her face. Should she lose her magic, she will find it in his smile. Should her empathic abilities fade, she would grow to accept the animal that she carries within her blood. And through every fear, there will be one constant. Tiberius Lowell. Her future. Her forever. Hers. “I… I didn’t think you felt that way.” Lana knows he loves her, but she had questioned the depths of that love, because she’s been hurt before and she knows how fickle some men are with their hearts. But not her man, because this lycan is saying all the right things, and with each syllable she feels her hope being restored. When had he taught her to live? What moment had she taught him to love? The couple had been so wrapped up in each other, the fact that she’s dying, the issues with getting vengeance on his past, they hadn’t truly had the time to sit and have this conversation. “Thank you… You have no idea how much better I feel after hearing you say all of that…” Her heart is beating so fast she’s fearful she will go into cardiac arrest, her body is trembling from more than the chill in the water, and a faint flush is present in her face as they lock eyes. Amber clashes with chocolate, unseen sparks sizzle in the air between their forms, and a spiritual cord tethers their souls together for all eternity, as Lanara takes Tiber’s hand and gently tugs him into the tiny pool. She presses her lips to his in his lingering kiss, breathing in his scent, memorizing the feel of his body against hers, and teasingly tasting his lips for what seems like an eternity. They are lost in a moment, in the privacy of a secluded area, and she wishes that they had taken this trip by themselves, rather than with the pack. But they do have forever to plan this again, right? “Thank you for loving me, and for helping me to see things… I… I-I trust you, Tiber. We are going to do this in a few days, and we will have our forever. I can’t wait to start a new life with you.” Without words, she slips all of her trust into his palms, the first man she can honestly say she feels security with in a relationship. Although there have been others before Tiber, she questions if she ever loved anyone, because the heights that this magnificent man brings her to, are beyond comparison. Lana wraps her arms tightly around Tiber and kisses him again, using his waist and shoulders as balance to hold her in the water, “We -should- be getting back, but I sort of like the idea of spending some intimate time here for a little bit?” She quirks a brow as she drops a saucy hint, wondering if he’s game, but if not, she will pry herself from his frame and head back to the others.

Tiber :: Searching in Lanara’s gaze had brought flashes of moments back to him. Moments of the past. How hard-headed he had been with the woman at the beginning. The woman that broke down walls that most people were not able to break. Underneath such thickened skin had been a protective man. A man willing to love. To put his trust in another, although she had been deteriorating in front of him. She was home, and he was willing to keep her that way. Home. His face is strong as her face reflects teary emotion. The lycan had made a promise to hold her up, and when he did, she lived. She let loose. She loved. She laughed. She screamed ferociously at the world before them. Keep it that way, Lowell. Lowell. Lanara Lowell. Was that thought truly coming to his head? He could not think that far. Give his hopes up that high that they would be… together. When she tugs him into the pool, he clashes against her. He holds the back of her hair in their passionate exchange. He presses her against a rock and kisses her deeply. She said ‘yes’. She would risk the lycanthrope for him. Was it selfish? He was not sure. It was better than not trying at all. Through the heated moment, he pulls back. ‘I trust you, Tiber’ and he brushes her damp strands of hair away from her thin face. He looks at her. Really looks at her. “No matter what happens, I love you, Lanara. In a few days,” he thinks. Does she have a few days? He releases a breath--he could prepare for the ritual in the next few days, “It’s a risk I’m willing to take.” To become one of them. The runners. The ones that rely back at the main private beach. Tiber squeezes her against him and kisses her for a longing moment again. With the motions of his physicality, he is… secure. For now. Relieved that she will try. Her slyness then catches him off-guard, and he smirks. Eyes trail to the direction the rest of the crew is. “We -should-, but I don’t know. I kind of like the lack of bitching,” he grins and presses her against the wall again, so they can devour themselves in their intimacy. He plays into her games. Skin, breath, dripping water, lust. Love. The man was pouring his love for her through the breathlessness. When the time ticks further, however, he knows they cannot play their games forever, and he breathes against her ear. “Your favorite person is probably running her mouth right about now,” he grins against her neck now and plants small kisses against the side of it. A cue it was time to leave after their open-hearted, saucy escape.

Lanara loses herself in the throes of ecstasy as their bodies collide beneath the water, making certain that they try not to make too much noise that could alert the others of their spontaneous lovemaking. The cool air is refreshing against their increased temperatures, and the rock wall is a smooth bed for them to lie upon once they have succumbed to that last moment of sheer desire. Lana nibbles on Tiber’s chin, before he trails kisses along her neck and announces that they have to return to the others, which has her feigning a pout. She wants to be selfish and keep the others locked in the storage unit, so she can have all of Tiber’s attention, all the time! “Okay… But once I’m a wolf? If Corrine starts with me, you have to let me attack her and stake my place in the pack. I am -not- going to keep letting her get away with disrespecting me and if she dares to assume she will be anything of yours aside from a packmate, I will…” Her voice trails off and she giggles, as she didn’t want her lycan to see her jealousy flare so easily. “Just wait until I’m like you…” Corrine is as good as dead if she dares to touch Lanara’s mate, it’s a certainty, but hopefully it won’t come to that sort of ending! After a few more moments of snuggling and waiting for their hormones to calm down, the pair walks hand in hand back to the others. Everyone is in a much better mood after being in the outdoors for a while, their bellies are full of tasty food, and there aren’t any more foul words or gestures exchanged between the group. Lanara shows them all how to make s’mores, and she even eats two herself, while Tiber has them all form a circle around a bonfire and tells them some ghost stories. Nothing too scary, of course, as Tybalt is still just a boy! All in all, what had started as a heartbreaking morning had bled into a difficult afternoon, but it ended in the best of evenings. Tiberius Lowell had learned to love, Lanara Banks had learned to live, and the six hopefuls that were recently rescued had learned to hope and to lean on each other a little bit.